Back to the Future Makes First-Ever IMAX Debut This Halloween — Plus 4K Steelbooks and an Amazon Collector Set
Back to the Future will return to theaters this Halloween for its 40th anniversary, and for the first time the 1985 film will play in IMAX. Universal released a new trailer to mark the occasion, and the movie will also be offered in Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and D-Box as part of a limited nationwide run.
Release details
Universal has scheduled a limited theatrical run of Back to the Future in IMAX for Halloween 2025. In addition, the film will play in other premium formats, including Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and D-Box.
These screenings are a timed event rather than a permanent reissue, so tickets will be available only for a short period during the anniversary window. For now, Universal’s announcement centers on the 40th anniversary celebration and the film’s IMAX debut.
Special editions and releases
Alongside the theatrical re-release, the Back to the Future trilogy is getting individual limited-edition 40th anniversary 4K steelbooks, scheduled to release on Oct. 14 for $49 each.
Furthermore, there will be an Amazon-exclusive gift set that uses different steelbook art and includes physical collector items such as a mini Gibson guitar replica and an OUTATIME license plate. You can see the separate steelbook listing and the Amazon gift set here:
individual 40th anniversary 4K steelbooks on Amazon
Amazon-exclusive gift set with collectors’ items
Trailer
Universal released a new trailer for the IMAX event that highlights the film’s score and its key moments. The trailer is the studio’s primary promotional material for the re-release.
Cultural notes
Back to the Future first premiered in 1985 and has remained a notable title in pop culture. For example, fans marked Oct. 21 as “Back to the Future Day” after the date featured in Part II, and the film’s story template — a younger protagonist teaming up with an eccentric older scientist — appears echoed in later shows.
Also, online deepfakes and fan edits have at times renewed calls for remakes, though no remake is scheduled. A popular deepfake that cast contemporary actors in the film’s roles circulated online and drew attention to the title again:
Overall, Universal’s IMAX run and the 4K releases are concrete steps the studio is taking to mark the film’s 40th anniversary and to make the movie available in modern theatrical and home formats.
